Vandalism down, graffiti up at schools
By Melissa Lampman – Kamloops This Week [British Columbia]
Published: August 26, 2008
School District 73 saw a drop in vandalism on its properties, but is finding more graffiti than ever.
During the 2007-2008 school year, the district spent nearly $40,000 on glass replacement, down from the 2005-2006 year when more than $50,000 was spent.
Art McDonald, director of facilities and transportation, told the Board of Education Monday all district facilities are seeing less window breakage and overall damage.
“We are putting less material up, as far as breakage goes,” he said.
The few schools that did have some damage were Author Stevenson elementary, with dumpsters that were tipped over and then set on fire; Barriere secondary, which had 17 windows broken in July; and Barriere elementary, which had 27 windows smashed.
However, just like the rest of the city, there’s more graffiti being done than ever.
McDonald said painting man hours have almost doubled for the last school year, with 154, compared to the 93 man hours in 2006-2007.
“But, those man hours are only one per cent of our time,” he said.
“With the graffiti, we chase it, but it’s very difficult to stop.”
McDonald said most vandalism takes place from April to October, especially during long weekends.
The only way to stop it from happening would be to have security patrols at every facility.
“But we can’t be everywhere at once . . . we’re talking millions of dollars.”
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Vandals arrested by RCMP
Barriere Star Journal [British Columbia]
Published: August 25, 2008 5:00 AM
Barriere RCMP report a series of arrests have recently taken place within the community.
At approximately 11 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, someone, or several someones, pried off a board at the rear of the Barriere Secondary School, gained entry and pulled the fire alarm.
The next morning it was discovered that windows at the front of the Elementary School were also smashed.
The severity of the incidents have been steadily rising and Barriere RCMP Constable Evan Cadwallader reports, “two people were recently arrested after being caught smashing the sign and two exterior lights at the Y5 motel.”
The two were held in custody, will be facing criminal charges, and were eventually released. Police say the perpetrators of this episode will have their names released at a later date.
RCMP also report that in the early hours of Aug. 20th they responded to reports of a fight in the area of the high school. Two males in their early twenties were arrested at the scene, and were charged with assault with a weapon. They were taken into custody by the RCMP with one being released and one remanded in custody. Tyler and Tony Cisna (cousins), and new residents to the area, will appear separately in court on Aug. 26 and Aug. 29.
Police also received reports of fires being lit in the middle of the road in the vicinity of the schools on Aug. 20. Cst. Cadwallader reports that a canine unit was called in and that the police dog was instrumental in tracking down the culprits.
Barriere police say they have several serious leads in the investigation of other cases of vandalism in the Barriere area and they expect to make more arrests soon. They request that if anyone has any information on the damage done to the schools to please come forward to the Barriere RCMP or call Crimestoppers.
Confrontation 
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